CHAINS

Chemistry as innovative Science

CHAINS is the annual Dutch chemistry conference. It is the event where chemists (from PhD students and postdocs to professors and R&D scientists) in science and industry come together.

CHAINS 2018: Connecting chemistry communities

On Monday 3, Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December nearly 1500 scientists gathered in NH Conference Center De Koningshof in Veldhoven to attend the sixth edition of CHAINS. We look back at an inspiring and succesful CHAINS 2018, where communities in chemistry connected. Organised in close cooperation with our partners KNCV, VNCI, Holland Chemistry, and our sponsors.

National and international top speakers gave plenary and keynote lectures and there were over 180 parallel lectures and 450 poster presentations. Participants had the opportunity to speed date with one of the industrial partners or with an NWO policy officer. In the main hall the sponsors’ stands could be visited and a new pitch podium was available: The spotlight is on! Holland Chemistry Innovation Plaza staged several pitches and focus sessions.

Pascal Jonkheijm received the KNCV Gold Medal and gave his lecture entitled: Chemical strategies for cell-instructive biointerfaces.

On the plenary day the award ceremony took place with three prestigious chemistry prizes.

The NWO Athena Prize was awarded to two winners for the first time: Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam and Monique van der Veen for their scientific work and their active efforts to change tenure-track policy for parents at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and other Dutch universities.

Sponsh won the Gouden KIEM for best chemical startup for their temperature-sensitive textile that produces water from the air. Their technology provides a new way of supplying water in dry coastal areas in particular.

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) funds top researchers, steers the course of Dutch science by means of research programmes and by managing the national knowledge infrastructure.